How is it diagnosed? | Swelling of the neck under the jaw

How is it diagnosed?

The most important step in diagnosing the swelling on the neck under the jaw is the medical history, where the doctor can find out the most indications of the origin of the swelling. This is followed by a physical examination of the swelling. Afterwards, depending on the suspected cause, various laboratory tests and imaging techniques can be used. Ultrasound is particularly suitable for a quick overview.

Other accompanying symptoms

Swelling of the neck under the jaw is the most common accompanying symptom, pain. Other indications of inflammation, such as redness and overheating of the affected area, can also occur. Lymph node swelling due to a systemic infection can lead to flu-like symptoms such as headache and aching limbs, fever, fatigue, etc.

Chronic diseases that trigger such swelling are usually accompanied by fewer symptoms. The painfulness of the swelling on the neck is one of the most important indications of the cause of the symptoms. Usually, acute diseases such as inflammation (tooth root, superficial inflammation, abscess, systemic infection) cause painful swelling. Chronic diseases, on the other hand, develop slowly and are therefore usually not associated with impressive clinical symptoms such as pain. For example, a neck cyst as well as a malignant swelling of lymph nodes can occur as a painless swelling of the neck under the jaw.

Therapy of swelling of the neck under the jaw

The therapy of swelling of the neck under the jaw depends largely on the cause of the complaints. In most cases a symptomatic treatment of the complaints can be performed.For example, painkillers can relieve the symptoms and cooling the swelling can provide additional relief if the cause is an inflammation in the jaw area. In addition, the focus of inflammation (for example, an inflamed tooth root) should be treated.

If a bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics can fight the pathogens and thus alleviate the symptoms. In the case of swellings that are not accompanied by inflammation, the therapy usually looks somewhat different. If the causes are harmless, it is possible to wait and see; if necessary, the cause of the swelling should be removed surgically. If the swelling on the neck below the jaw is caused by a malignant process, oncological therapy (cancer treatment) with surgery and radiotherapy may be necessary.